Metformin newbie

[stargazerk]

Hi all, newbie here

I have been diagnosed type 2 since February of this year. I initially was prescribed to take 1x500mg Metformin in the morning and the same in the evening.

A few weeks ago this was doubled to 2x500mg Metformin.

I have constant diarhhea (bout 5-6 times a day) and it has made day to day journeys and tasks more daunting. I am starting to feel that I always need to be somewhere that has access to a toilet. These tablets are ripping my stomach to pieces. It seems like everything I eat, never stays down for long.

Other symptoms I experience are ; extreme tiredness, sore legs, weak arms, breathlessness, mood swings.
Big no-no foods for me that I have found out so far are ; cheese and milk.

Im a 35 y.o. male and about 1.5 stone overweight.

Its starting to feel that I am not in control of my life and body and that diabetes is creating havoc with me and my day to day activities. I want to take my life back !!

Any help/feedback etc would be most welcome. I :wave:

Thank you.

 

[))Denise((]

Diarrhoea is a common side effect of Metformin. You don't have to suffer, go back to your doctor and ask for the SR or MR release version. In the meantime you could take one three times a day, with each meal. It is also important to take it mid meal. The more carbs you eat, the worse Metformin's kick. I found that cutting out wheat solved a lot of my stomach problems with Metformin.

 

[stargazerk]

Diarrhoea is a common side effect of Metformin. You don't have to suffer, go back to your doctor and ask for the SR or MR release version. In the meantime you could take one three times a day, with each meal. It is also important to take it mid meal. The more carbs you eat, the worse Metformin's kick. I found that cutting out wheat solved a lot of my stomach problems with Metformin.

Thanks Denise, I will speak to my GP. Yeah, I always take them mid-meal.

Do you know of any other foods that don't agree with Metformin?

Thanks

 

[LittleGreyCat]

It may take you longer to adjust than some.

How are you with just one tablet a day?

You shouldn't up your dose until you are comfortable with the initial dose.

Some lucky ones adapt very quickly. Others don't.

Cheers

LGC

 

[Dusk71]

Something that helped my stomach was probiotics. I used to drink the yogs but they're expensive, I now take a couple of Holland and Barrett probiotic tabs each morning and my stomach is now very calm [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]


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[stargazerk]

It may take you longer to adjust than some.

How are you with just one tablet a day?

You shouldn't up your dose until you are comfortable with the initial dose.

Some lucky ones adapt very quickly. Others don't.

Cheers

LGC

hi there, thanks for ur reply.

I was just as bad with one tablet a day to be honest.

it was my GP that upped my dosage as my reading was at 6.4 whilst on my initial dosage.

Cheers

 

[stargazerk]

Something that helped my stomach was probiotics. I used to drink the yogs but they're expensive, I now take a couple of Holland and Barrett probiotic tabs each morning and my stomach is now very calm [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]


hi there,

I am willing to try anything though, so I'll give them both a try.

Thanks for that

 

[Daibell]

Yes, do ask for the SR version. GPs know it's kinder but as it's more expensive they try you out on the standard version first. Normally Metformin isn't affected by the foods you eat and even the standard version normally settles after a few weeks but not always.

 

[ChrisOT61]

I am also really struggling to cope with the side effects of metformin. I take 850mg twice a day and most evenings have terrible diarrhoea and stomach cramps! Even after eating low carb food and testing two hours later to find my BS is stable, I can still get the terrible side effects!
Chris x


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[msmudge]

It may take you longer to adjust than some.

How are you with just one tablet a day?

You shouldn't up your dose until you are comfortable with the initial dose.

Some lucky ones adapt very quickly. Others don't.

Cheers

LGC

I was just as bad with one tablet a day to be honest.

it was my GP that upped my dosage as my reading was at 6.4 whilst on my initial dosage.

6.4 is within normal levels so why did the GP increase your dose?
I was running too high. But my doc gave me sitagliptin along side metformin instead of doubling my dose, because of the stomach problems.


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[celly_m]

Hi I was started on metformin about 2 week's ago I was on it for a week and I became quite ill. I was taken into hospital partly because of that And my sugar levels and I had a very bad chest infection. The doctor's stopped the metformin right away and within a day I was feeling a bit better. I spoke to the diabetic nurse from the hospital On Monday and she wants me on metformin again. I wasn't keen because of wot happened before but she said there I'd a form of metformin that is slow release and they give it yo ppl that don't tolerate the other metformin. I don't know the name of it yet as waiting for the prescription. But maybe it would be worth asking your gp about it?? I was told the bad side affects should only last 2 week's.

 

[Madbazoo]

I had all the same problems with Metformin and my GP insisted I continued with them as the side effects would improve in time. After 3 months I insisted he considered other treatments as it was making my life very unpleasant as the stomach upsets came suddenly without warning. He changed my medication to Glucophage which is a slow release version of Metformin, and the improvement was very evident within days. Try this medication and I hope it works as well for you


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[stargazerk]

Thanks guys for the info, appreciate it much

Yeh, I will be speaking to my GP about slow release as Im finding it hard to feel "normal" day to day, hour to hour.

These constant stomach upsets are just too much now. I can never relax fully as I know that I need to be near a toilet at some point.

Thanks

 

[Fizzy1408]

Just joined the forum and seen this post. I had severe nausea when I first started metformin but I too suffered with sore legs and weak muscles. The doctor told me it wasn't related and that was it. I stopped taking the metformin and after a week or so, the muscle soreness and weakness improved and now gone. The trouble is, my glucose has gone up and I've got terribly itchy skin (which I gather is common with high glucose levels) and I've had to start taking it again. I will need to go back to see my doctor but I was interested to see I was not the only one with this problem. What are the alternatives to Metformin, as everyone talks as if it's a wonderdrug and it looks like it doesn't agree with everyone?

 

[Tom Cosens]

Like newby I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 at age 79. I weighed 14 stone at 6 feet so did not consider myself obese. I am now stable with a morning reading of 7 on average and am on 2x80mg Gliclazide and 2x500mg Metformin. taken at breakfast and dinner. The Doctor warned me about Metformin but fortunately I only get dry wind ! I will ask the Doc: about the slow release metformin.
I also suffer from lack of energy [ I have some excuse at 79 ! ] and put that down to having to give up sugar [one brown teaspoon per cup] and cutting down on sweet things. What is annoying is that I eat sensibly, do not smoke and drank alcohol moderately.
The Metformin leaflet says avoid alcohol -boring !!!! but I save money. I drink flavoured water instead.
One frustrating side effect is a dry mouth which I put down to the tablets. I am told that it will slowly go away. In the meantime I keep sucking Ricola herb sweets.
I had a major operation on my foot 6 months ago and in plaster for 10 weeks, plus stress at home, which I think created the diabetes.
Finally, thanks to all those members who replied to newbie. it has certainly helped me. Now, do I continue with my cereal and milk at breakfast !
Tom Cosens

 

[michlo]

Hi, i'm with many people on here, i was on 2x500mg daily Metformin, however on holiday 2 yrs ago without warning i ended up in the back of an ambulance after collapsing with quite low BS the paramedic said less than 3. I was then taken off Metformin and on the subsequent HBA1c's my levels were up to 7.6. The Doctor and Diabetic nurse decided i need be back on Metformin so back again.
However i suffer extremely sore legs constantly and bouts of wind and scarily explosive diarrhoea!.
I also cannot stabilise my blood sugars they are constantly sitting above 10 on a normal day, i dont eat ****** foods because i'm acutely aware of diabetic dangers, my sister is a senior Diabetic specialist nurse and i get it both barrels all the time. However the worry is mainly the disproportionate increase in BS, after a light lunch recently 2hrs after the meal i tested only because i wasnt feeling good that day and BS was 15.5, an hour later it was 20.3 the meal was nothing special, a homemade salad some cooked meat and a fat free yogurt that has very little sugar in it, that is really worrying, BS before the meal was 8.9...
I have a friend who like me is type 2 he recently started taking a dpp 4 inhibitor and he feels much better, not only that he's lost 2 stones, could this be a solution, his BS are very stable again, obviously we do compare notes with regards to food etc so i know i'm not doing this wrong because since i was diagnosed i have controlled my diet and lost over 20 kg..

Any advice would be helpful....thanks Mike

 

[connie104]

I was on metformin and had similar problems . After many trips to doctors he changed me onto Galvus which is vildagliptin and my BG is now under control. It is an expensive option compared to metformin and you may have trouble getting your doctor to prescribe it. Good luck

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[NICNAK68]

I had to be taken off metformin.
I had servere stomach cramps and was in constant pain all the time I took it, I was scanned, had blood tests, cameras up and down (lol) eventually told I had IBS, when on holiday afew months ago I forgot my metformin and surprise surprise the stomach isues went away.
Unfortunaltey I think I will need to up my insulin now, I will find out in October when I see my diabetic consultant.

 

[stargazerk]

Thanks for your replies

For the last four or five days I thought my stomach was starting to settle but, yet again, the stomach cramps and diareaha are back !! Got the doctor on Tuesday, so I will see what happens from there.

I see myself as a really positive person but with these stomach probs, its making me feel a bit annoyed etc with myself.

Im hoping after my visit to the Doc, that they can help me out with this. Fingers crossed.
Cheers Everyone.

 

[Daibell]

Hi Stargazerk. Are you using Metformin SR (Slow Release)? If not then do get your GP to change your prescription as the SR version is much kinder and solves most, but not all, of the problems people have on the forum with Metformin